Influence Network Lifetime Membership Giveaway!!

Have you heard of the Influence Network?

It is an amazing community of women that are seeking to make their online life mean something. 

It is a community full of encouragement and support (I can testify to this personally!).

A community that is seeking to glorify Jesus with our time here on the internet. 

Interested? 

Please Visit Heather's Blog HERE where you can read all the details on how to win a lifetime membership to the network! 

Two memberships will be given away total.

In the meantime you can go here to find more information on the lifetime membership to the Influence Network.

Intentional

Sometimes seasons last a little longer than what we would prefer them to. Those metaphorical seasons. 

The ones without weather patterns. The ones that we live and walk through. 

The seasons of life (if you will allow me to use such a cliche). 

I think I recognized for the first time the other evening that I have been walking through a season that seems very unintentional. 

As in, I am not intentional. 

I don't know that seasons themselves really have a choice in the matter. 

But, I sure know that to a degree, I have a choice as I live through whatever season I am in. 

Except I haven't been choosing for a very long time. 

I feel like I have been on an auto pilot version of life for quite awhile. 

As if I am going through days, weeks, months, just trying to make it to the next one. 

Not really making any conscious, risky choices. 

Not taking a hard look at it all and getting serious enough to sit down and think about being intentional. 

My perfectionism tells me to be intentionally perfect at all the roles I walk in and in all the seasons. 

My flesh fails. 

And this cues the "all or nothing" me to go with and settle on "nothing" instead of realizing there is another option. 

It never really is "all or nothing."

There is "grace." 

Which really pulls into perspective the idea of being able to try again under a source of strength that is beyond oneself. 

And I do love and serve a gracious God. He really defines the term. And He has been so gracious and patient with His daughter as she stumbles unintentionally through days that He has given to her.

I don't believe that being intentional means accomplishing everything all the time. 

And I certainly do not believe that it means you are a rock star in every area of life. 

Is there anyone that has it all figured out? 

But, I can't help but feel that God calls us to live an intentional life. 

A life that is intentionally focused on Him and the things that He has called us to. 

That requires us to seek. Not sit around and coast. Seek Him. 

I've been struggling with this friends.

Enough to call it a season.

But, I am ready to look at walking in the grace of my Savior. 

And I am ready to start living out my days intentionally seeking His will. 

And I know in order to do this there has to be moments of  "be still and know" paired with running after Him earnestly.

Please discuss with me, what are some ways that you are intentional with the time God has given you?

How are you living intentionally through your gifts, abilities, and the every day?

Easter reminds me to hope.

I hope your Easter weekend was full of good memories, time to reflect, and the promise of Spring weather.

Erick and I had a really great weekend together. We spent some time in northern Michigan watching my parent's animals while they were on vacation (in the warmer weather of the south!). 

And our state is starting to thaw and that means more birds chirping and less snow on the ground. 

And more sun shining and less cloudy days. 

I am grateful.

 I spent the afternoon on Friday attending a Good Friday service at our church. What a blessing that was. 

It's always awesome to gather together and worship. 

But, the sermon was especially moving and challenging and it refocused my heart towards the whole reason surrounding Easter: Jesus died. And He rose again. 

I couldn't stop thinking about the hope that this past weekend brings.

 Hope.

 Over and over that word was going through my head. 

We have hope that this life is not just an exercise in existence. We have hope that there is a point. 

That there is more. That our faith is not in vain.

 Because Jesus died, but then rose, we have hope!

 Death has been defeated. Suffering is not empty. The story is not over yet.

There is such immense peace and joy in that friends. 

And I felt filled to the brim with all of that this past weekend because it is a hope that goes far beyond one weekend a year. 

It is a life giving, life changing hope that changed my life. 

Has it changed yours? 

 

guy style// girl style// sometimes I wear my mother's dress and then we take bad pictures

myself and my brother in law, Kory:

Guy: shirt: j.crew/ jeans: levis / shoes: target / Girl: dress: my mother's closet /shoes: target / tights: target

Sometimes it is really windy and cold in this Michigan state. 

And sometimes I wear my mother's dress on these days. 

And as a result, sometimes it is really hard to stand still because of frost bite. 

But, take heart, it is Spring (in theory) after all. 

And as a result of all the fore mentioned things you get to look at the best we could do in the "pose like you mean it" department. 

My squinty eyes and all.  

But, Kory and I got a kick out of looking at some of our outtakes.

 We are summing them up accordingly: nervous, depressed, and angry. All because of that freezing breeze. 

I will leave you to determine what state is currently captured in the above pictures.

happy wednesday all!

 

Ya, we juice

Simply put, this post is all about juice.

 And it should not come as any surprise that our desire to try juicing came about after I watched the documentary: Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. 

And then I made my husband watch it.

 I have read more stories and posts in the last month about people watching this documentary and being inspired to try juicing. 

So, take a note from me, my carb addicted husband, and anyone else that has blogged about this topic in the last few months: this documentary will get you.

It got us. 

We promptly went out and purchased a Breville juicer and went for it.

Mind you, there has not been much juice fasting over here. 

More like supplementary juicing. 

(Even though we are open to trying a longer fast together in the future).

Being that I have Type 1 Diabetes I have always wondered how juicing would effect my blood sugar. 

And I can say that the longest I have went drinking predominantly juice for all my meals is about two days.

I do treat lows if I have them.

 And I don't restrict myself if I want a handful of almonds or a cheese stick in between my glasses of juice. Which may defeat the purpose for some. 

But, my goal in juicing is to primarily get all those nutrients. 

Seeing as my body is deficient in so many of them. 

And ironically my blood sugar stayed very level during the period of time that I have done this. 

 Definitely closer to the lower end.

I do try to juice predominantly vegetables with less fruit (because of my blood sugar). 

But, I have had a lot of fun getting more creative with Erick's drinks. 

And I do have an extrememly picky husband. And he drinks this stuff. 

That is testimony enough!

Have you tried juicing? What has been your experience? What is your favorite recipe? 

I would love to hear them!

Here is my favorite juicing concoction:

 

( I use all organic produce to ensure I am getting as many nutrients as possible)

6-7 stalks of Kale

 1 small/medium green apple

 1/2 of a lemon

 1/2 of a cucumber (peeled)

 1/2 pear 

1 carrot

Erick's favorite concoction: 

6 stalks of Kale

2 carrots

1/2 cucumber (peeled)

1 small/medium green apple

1/2 a grapefruit

1/2 a lemon

1 small orange

 

guy style// girl style// is it spring yet?

Guy: button up: J.Crew / crew neck sweatshirt: J.Crew / jeans: American Eagle / shoes: Sperry / sunglasses: Urban Outfitters / beanie: Target / Girl: jean vest: Maurices / shirt: H&M / jeans: H&M / boots: Target / ring: Forever 21 / sunglasses: Kate Spade

I keep reading that Spring has officially sprung in various states. 

But, I am here to announce that it is still remaining slightly elusive in Michigan. There are signs. 

We have had more sunshine in the last couple weeks than I dare to remember. And I have been greeted by the sounds of birds chirping away at my window. I have even put out a bird feeder. 

But, in the midst of all the signs, yesterday was a perfect reminder that winter in this state does not leave easily...or quietly. 

It was cold enough yesterday that we could see our breathe while trying to get these shots. 

Real mature, winter. 

In the midst of the cold shoulder we are getting from this never-ending season, we are slowly incorporating some Spring favorites into our wardrobe. 

That's what you do here. You fake it until spring catches the memo.

What are some items that you are especially excited about this season?

Anything that you are wearing right now even in the midst of winter's last stand? 

 

(p.s. I am sure you have heard by now the demise of google reader and all the ruckus it has caused. 

Well, in case you like all your ducks in a row (or all in one place for that matter) you can find me on bloglovin' right here. Or you can click on my button on the right sidebar.That felt too much like a public service announcement.)

(p.p.s rest in peace google reader.)

Waiting with joy

This morning as I walked out my front door, with the presence of snow still visibly on the ground, I was greeted by the sun and the briskness that is still in this air.

As my eyes scanned my surroundings, I witnessed a group of deer all running together through the snow. They were moving quickly. They were not stopping. They were all clustered together. They were on a mission to somewhere. And as they rounded the corner with all the speed they could muster, I noticed how one deer stopped and waited for all the rest to make it. And as soon they did, he followed right behind. 

I have been reminded in my daily and personal life what it means to have faith to walk with God through periods of waiting. I suppose this lesson, as of late, has really been twofold. 

One: I am more aware of the fact that waiting on God should be full of joy because of who I am waiting on. And Two: I am more sensitive to the idea that we are all a part of a body but we are all living a unique story at the same time.

Let me expound on the first. 

In this season of waiting that I am in. Right now. Currently. God has just so clearly convicted me that I need to be joyful. Because I am waiting on HIM. I am not waiting on my situation to change.

 I am not waiting for a change in status. I am waiting on Jesus Christ. 

Who is my provider and sustainer. Who makes all things new in its time. Who never leaves a good work unfinished. That should leave me with joy not despair. I should be walking this part of my story with confidence. I should be looking ahead, in faith, at what God is going to do. 

I need to be following after Him, my eyes set on His feet.

Here comes the second part. 

As we wait on God. As we are building that faith in Him alone. We are all waiting together. 

We may not be waiting on the same things. But, the fact that we are trusting in God to add the next line to our story is a common ground, no?

Let's encourage each other. Let's run this race together. Let's look out for one another. 

 Even though we may not be in the same area of life we are ultimately running the same race.

I suppose what I am trying to say is this: instead of us being critical of the different seasons we walk through. Instead of us questioning why one person is still in this position of life and not in another. Instead of even condemning ourselves because we thought we would be here or there or doing something completely different (by now).

Choose encouragement. Choose joy. Choose to have faith that goes outside these circumstances (that we see right now).

We can be so critical of others and what they are doing or not doing. 

And we can be so critical of ourselves in that same vein. 

And now we are entering the conclusion. 

I want to wait on God with faith. I want to finish well as this season comes to a close in my life. 

I want to be filled with expectant joy because of who I am waiting on. 

And I want to encourage my fellow friends who are also waiting. 

I want to build them up not belittle the season they are in. 

I want to spur them on and tell them to keep running the race. 

Are you waiting on God for that next step right now? Do you know someone that is?

"And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint."

Galatians 6:9 (AMP)